ST. PETERSBURG - St. Petersburg, Helsinki and Tallinn - page 21

Don'tDrinktheWater: While new water treatment plants have improved quality in recent
years, and most locals wash fruit and brush their teeth with tap water, they still don't
drink it—and neither should you. Buy bottled water cheaply in grocery stores.
Theft Alert: Russia has hardworking, often unusually aggressive pickpockets who target
tourists. Be particularly aware anywhere along Nevsky Prospekt, in crowded shopping
areas (such as Gostiny Dvor), and on public transport. Assume that any scuffle is a dis-
traction by a team of thieves, and that anyone who approaches you on the street is try-
ing to pull off a scam. Some thieves are well-dressed and even carry guidebooks to fool
you.
Pedestrian Safety: Always use crosswalks and look both ways before crossing, as traffic
laws are loosely obeyed and drivers often go much too fast, even on small city-center
streets. Nevsky Prospekt has eight lanes of traffic moving at terrifying speeds; don't
jaywalk.
LanguageBarrier: St. Petersburg is awash in tourists, but most of them are Russian. Don't
expect anybody you interact with to speak English. (And, when they realize you don't
speak Russian, locals will often simply ignore you.) Fortunately, Metro signs and some
street signs are bilingual.
Online Translation Tip: If a website you want is available only in Russian, try using
the Chrome browser (available free at www.google.com/chrome ) , which automatically
senses a foreign language and offers to (roughly) translate the page for you.
BusinessHours: Many shops and services are open the same hours seven days a week (the
legacy of communism, which tried to do away with weekends). Offices are more likely
to close or have shorter hours on Saturday and particularly Sunday.
“Sightseeing Tax” for Foreigners: You may notice that the admission price for Russians
to various sights can be much less—often less than half—the cost for foreigners. I've
listed only the “foreigner” price, but if you happen to have a Russian passport, be sure
to pay the lower price.
Tipping: As service is included at sit-down meals, you don't need to tip further. Tip a taxi
driver by rounding up the fare a bit (pay 300 R on an 280-R fare).
DressCode: In Orthodox churches, modest dress is expected (no shorts or bare shoulders;
women are encouraged to cover their heads with a scarf).
Pharmacy: Look for 366, with branches at Gorokhovaya 16, near the Admiralteyskaya
Metro stop (Mon-Fri 9:00-23:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-22:00, tel. [phone]) and Nevsky
Prospekt 98, near the Mayakovskaya Metro stop (Mon-Fri 24 hours, Sat-Sun
10:00-21:00, tel. [phone]).
Medical/Dental Services: The (entirely Russian-staffed) American Medical Clinic is
near St. Isaac's Cathedral on the Moyka Embankment (Nab. reki Moyki 78, tel.
740-2090, www.amclinic.com , [e-mail] ) .
Bridge Openings: Between about 1:30 and 5:00 in the morning, many of St. Petersburg's
bridges are lifted for river traffic, making it impossible to get between the city's differ-
ent islands. Make sure not to get stranded if out late.
Internet Access: You can get online in an Internet café at the back of the Subway restaur-
ant at Nevsky Prospekt 11 (enter on side street and take stairs up to second floor; 120